Translator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N. B. WALES, JR

TRANSLATOR INVENTOR.

NATHANIEL B. WALES. JR. BY

ATTORNEY March 13, 1962 Filed Sept. 1, 1960 March 13, 1962 N. B. WALES, JR 3,024,976

TRANSLATOR Filed Sept. 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent ()filice 3,024,976 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 3,024,976 TRANSLATOR Nathaniel B. Wales, Jr., Sharon, Conn, assignor to Monroe Calculating Machine Company, Orange, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 53,435 8 Claims. (Cl. 23561) This invention relates generally to translators and more particularly to a ball matrix translator for providing a decoded output from input electrical signals derived from a computing device.

It has been known heretofore to translate code signals, which modern high speed computers generate, into a use ful form by means of relatively sophisticated and complex apparatus. In addition to the added expense of such devices the large number of moving parts generate more possibilities for error and therefore present, to some extent, the disadvantage of being less definite and reliable in operation. Also, in electronic systems, an idiosyncrasy in a vacuum tube or the like sometimes yields an output containing false and spurious signals. Many known translators or decoders utilize permutation bars which convert the electrical input signals to mechanical movements for providing readout or printing indicia to an operator or another machine. The permutation bar type of system is of the permissive type in that a pivotable member is seeking a slot or aperture and when such is found the pivotable member is permitted to move so as to actuate some other member. In the type of system just mentioned, as well as in most others, there is no direct assertive drive translator to unfailingly yield the output desired. In brief the problem facing the industry has been the development of an inexpensive assertive translator of simple construction, the simple construction including a minimum of moving parts.

This invention is directed to the solution of the problem stated and comprises basically a matrix of balls in which the computer initiated horizontal movement of one or more rows of balls causes one column of balls to move into axial alignment so as to positively activate a control member by the camming action between the balls of this column.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide inexpensive assertive translator apparatus having a minimum of moving parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide rugged translator apparatus which is not susceptive to the vibrational or shock failures experienced in other types of devices.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide permanent records of rapidly generated information.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide information translating structures sturdy and positive in indication, free of the uncertainties which accompany the actuation of indicators on a selective basis without affirmatively precluding the actuation of incorrect indicators.

These and other objects of the invention are set forth in the appended claims and the invention as to its organization and mode of operation will best be understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when used in connection with the accompanying drawings which are hereby made a part of the specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional elevation view of one embodiment of the translator as viewed along lines 11 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the translator.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional end elevation view of one embodiment of the translator.

FIG. 4 is a representation of a three-slide ball matrix translator capable of decoding from binary to numerical from one to seven.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, such as FIG. 1, a plurality of slidable bar members are utilized in which each bar has elevated space coded ball members associated therewith. The bar members are mounted adjacent to each other in a parallel fashion and are arranged for longitudinal motion in response to code signals. By such a structure, juxtapositioning of a single group of the aforementioned space coded balls is obtained to the exclusion of all others and an appropriate indicator is actuated thereby.

In the following detailed description of the apparatus by which the objects of the invention are realized FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which a housing 2 supports and encloses slidable bars 4 and 6 which are mounted to move reciprocally in parallel planes relative to each other. The bar members 4 and 6 are circularly apertured to contain spherical members 8 which have a diameter greater than the thickness of the slide bars.

The carriers or bars 4 and 6 are positioned longitudinally under actuation of a code signal or other intelligence generated by an appropriate well-known computer 10. When the computer 10 applies an electrical signal to the conductor 12, solenoid or other actuator means 14 operates to move plunger 16 with its associated pin 18 and bar 4 laterally to the right. In like manner a computer signal on lead 22 energizes solenoid 24 to move plunger 26 with its associated pin 28 and bar 6 to the right. It may be seen that the lateral movement of these bars repositions laterally the balls associated with the bar and also repositions vertically the balls of any column which come into or leave vertical alignment with other balls in the vertical column.

It should be understood of course that the drive for the slide bars 4 and 6 could be mechanical in nature without departing from the spirit of the invention.

To reiterate, upon lateral positioning of either or both of the bars 4 and 6 one and only one of the plural space coded spheres in one of the bars is aligned with a corresponding sphere in the other bar member. This alignment of the two spheres acts through one of the coupling balls 9 to raise one of the keys 30, 31, 32. or 33 which are pivotably mounted on shaft 29. The action is similar to a typewriter and may be utilized as such by imprinting upon a recording medium backed by an anvil or as in the preferred embodiment the keys 30, 31, 32, and 33 may be employed to actuate one of the letter or power cams 40, 41, 42 or 43. These cams represent standard parts of any well-known electric typewriter which may be illustrated generally by numeral 46.

The coupling balls 9 are provided, in FIG. 1, to provide output drive members which are equally spaced. Should the feature of equal spacing not be mandatory it is seen the output information could be taken directly off the balls associated with slide bar 4. This of course would not alter the information itself but only necessitate compensating for lack of mechanical spacing or uniformity of the output drive elements.

A slight variation in structure is shown in FIG. 3 wherein a print or enabling cam 48 is provided. The purpose of this cam is to activate the spring loaded control or printing lever 30 after the bars 4 and 6 have reached their positions. In operation the computer 10 will apply signals to the desired solenoids which will laterally position the bars in accordance with the code being used. After the solenoids are actuated the print cam 48 is caused to rotate so as to lift the column of balls 9, 8, 8 against the lever 30* which will then abut a printing medium, power cam or other device. It is thus seen that the cam 48 acts as a safety factor in that two conditions must be satisfied for any movement of a printing lever. First, the column of balls representing the charactor to be printed or read out must be aligned axially so that the uppermost or coupling ball is elevated relative to the other columns. Second, the printing cam must be rotated to cause the final movement of the coupling ball against the printing lever. This arrangement eliminates the possibility of a rnisprint, especially in large systems where there are many rows and columns, due to the inadvertent alignment of a column of balls prior to all bars being actuated to their proper position. Such an event might occur in FIG. 1 for instance if it were desired to print the number three by actuating both solenoids 14 and 24 to drive printing lever 33. Should, for some reason, solenoid 14 become energized substantially before solenoid 2.4, the movement of slide bar 4 to the right might cause the column of balls proximate printing lever 31 to become aligned so as to erroneously cause the printing of some other number such as the number one. Such a contingency would not occur of course if the computer it) is capable of simultaneous activation of the solenoids involved.

The camming action of the balls, whereby one moves vertically as it passes laterally over another ball results in a positive, assertive action or drive to actuate the member to be driven, such as a printing cam. For best results and camming action, the slide bar thickness should not be less than the ball radius and the distance between bars should not exceed the ball radius.

One example of the use of the translator ball matrix is illustrated in PEG. 4 in which the slides represent the binary numbers one, two and four. In other words, slide 1 is operated to move to the right one grid position when a binary one signal is applied to the solenoid associated with slide 1. In like manner the binary signals representing the quantities two and four actuate slide 2 and slide 4. The printout number which occurs when all three balls are moved to the right-hand grid of each pair is designated at the bottom of the appropriate grid lines in FIG. 4. For example, when slide 1 and slide 4 are moved to the right it will be seen that the only ball alignment will occur at grid line 50 which will yield an output indication of S by actuating the printing lever or power cam associated with that position. The invention is of course not limited to binary code applications but is equally advantageous with reciprocal or other well-known codes. The invention may be utilized in a two dimensional array each slidable member of which has two degrees of code freedom, i.e., four positions per slidable sheet and four possible coplanar axes of reciprocal motion.

It should be understood that this invention is not limited to specific details of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, and that changes and modifications may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention; the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An actuator mechanism comprising at least first and second slidable members each having a plurality of raised portions distributed therealong in an array and spaced in accordance with a predetermined code, supporting means for supporting said members in sliding relation for reciprocal movement in a direction of said array, said members being positionable in a plurality of combinational positions in each of which only the selected raised portions of one of said members is in alignment with the corresponding raised portions on each of the other of said members, and a plurality of displaccable members positioned to be actuated by the raised portion of a member aligned with the raised portion of another member.

2. A selective actuator mechanism comprising at least first and second carrier members, a retaining member for constraining said carrier members to parallel reciprocal motion, each of said carrier members being plurally apertured for retaining roller members in space coded positions, plural indicating means positioned with respect to said retaining member for responding to coincident positioning of roller members in said carrier members, signal responsive means for positioning said carrier members in the direction of said motion, and code signal generating means for applying signals to said responsive means, whereby said indicating means are actuated afiirmatively in response to signals from said generating means.

3. Translator apparatus comprising computer means for generating electrical intelligence, matrix means including input and output members, actuator means interconnecting the said computer and matrix means whereby the actuator means adjusts the said matrix means in response to the electrical intelligence of the computer so as to activate the said output members of the matrix means, the said matrix means including apertured slide members and spherical members within the slide member apertures which alter their position relative to the said slide members when two or more spherical members become aligned whereby the said altered position of one or more spherical members becomes a translated indication of the said computer electrical intelligence.

4. Translator apparatus comprising a ball matrix decoder having input and output members and including slidable bar members having space coded apertures formed therein, spherical members, of a diameter less than that of the said apertures, contained within the said space coded apertures, actuator means including a com- -puter connected to the said matrix decoder input members and operative to actuate the said bar members in accordance with coded information from the actuator means, recording means including letter cams mounted proximate the said matrix decoder output member whereby the alignment of the said spherical members due to movement of the said bars causes the activation of a letter cam in accordance with the information as decoded by the slidable bars.

5. Translator apparatus comprising a ball matrix having input and output members and including slidable bar members having space coded apertures formed therein, spherical members contained within the said space coded apertures, and enabling drive means positioned to abut at least one of the spherical members for varying the position of at least one of the spherical members and at least one of the output members.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the said ball matrix output members include spherical coupling elements.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the slidable bar members are operated by actuator means including electrical solenoids.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the said enabling drive means includes a rotatable cam which, when rotated, abuts a spherical member so as to cause movement of at least one of the said ball matrix output members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

